Camper tie down



United States Patent Raywood C. Weiler 17586 Vine St., Fontana, California 92335 [21] Appl. No. 842,604

[22] Filed July 17,1969

[45 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 [72] Inventor [54] CAMPER TIE DOWN 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[521 [1.8. CI 296/23, 296/35, 248/361 [51] Int. Cl 860p 3/32 [50] Field of Search 296/351,

23MC; 224/4245, 29; 214/515; 248/361; 24/7365, 263.3; 280/l79 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,050,98l 8/1936 Cohen 224/42.31UX 3,489,454 1/1970 Manteufel 296/35.lX

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-John Mannix Attorney-Dana E. Keech ABSTRACT: A tie downdevice for campers in which the panel attachment member for the camper is anchored to the top side and inner angle lip of the truck bed by means of a lip clamp adjustably secured to an inner depending extension of the attachment member. The inner extension may have an adjustable clamping connection with the truck body. The adjustable lip clamp may or may not be associated with a truck bed fixture hole plug.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,772

Sheet 1 of2 m m/km ram/000 6. (1/52 5/6 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,772

Sheet 8 0:2

64mm 0 6i a/n filter/lay CAMRER TIE nown SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION camper tie down device complete in itselfand requiringno additional attaching means, for quick attachment to or release from the truck body. I 1

Still another object 'of the invention lies in the releaseable means for clamping the device to the inner angle lip of the truck body.

Yet another object of the invention is inthe provision ofadjustable means that insures easy and quick installation on most pickup truck bodies.

There are a number of camper tie down devices on the market and the present applicant has devised several that make it relatively easy for the owner or user ofa camper to secure it;

quickly and firmly to the truck body. It is particularly desired that the device be made .for quick use and adaptability to various makes of truck bodies-without extra bolts. connections and drilling other body defacement.

- The fundamental theory of the present invention is to provide a powerfully secured; quickly attachable and detachable angled anchor member overhanging andhaving releaseable clamping connection with the truck body top side and inner angle lip. No additional connecting means is necessary. Certain modifications may be used to strengthen the bracket if desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention wilI-become-apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference be made to the accompanying drawings, herewith wherein:

BRIEF osscntprionor THE DRAWINGS FIG'. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the tie down bracket in position of use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded persp ective view of the device'of FIGS 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of. FIG. 2. I I

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device mounted on a truck body.

FIG. 6 is 'a' view .of the bracket taken in thedirection of arrow 6 in FIG. 5.-

FIG; 7 is a side elevational viewv of the modified tie down bracket.

FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction ofarrow 8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of the invention. i

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT conventional side panel 12 of the truck bed or body. The arm has a flat intermediate portion or member 13 that lies on top wall 14 of the panel 12. An integral or welded extension 16 of the member 13 depends downwardly 'a considerable distance within the truck body and adjacent to the inner side or a conventional projection? of the panel 12.: The extension and 26. The upper'wing26 of the clamp 22 engages the inside of the right angle formed between the panellip 20 and panel top wall 14. A laterally projecting element 28 is welded to the upper inner side of the extension 16. The purpose of this extended clamping area is toincrease the tie down bracket securement. The lower wing of the clamping bracket 22 contacts a head 30 welded on the inner side of the extension 16 to complete the clamping action.

It isintended that the tie down bracket be further and adjustably-se cured so that the anchor arm can be lined up with the connectionon the camper body. This is accomplished by means of a wide stabilizing bar 32 having rubber covered end areas'34 to prevent truck body deface-merit. The bar 32 is releaseably and adjustably secured to the lower end of the extension lfiby the threaded bolt and nut connection. 36.

Theoperation of the bracket described is believed apparent and its attachability and detachability easily and quickly accomplished. No additional attaching means are necessary. The device is clamped to-the panel top wall 14 and inner angle lip 20 andthe lower adjustment is made to suit the condition.

Themoditied tie down device of FIGS. 5 through 8 differs in "certain parts but not sufficiently to redescribe the entire mechanism. Fundamentally, the device is basically the same with someexceptions and additions. The arm 40 may ormay nothave an outturned apertured connecting lip 42. The arm 40overlies the top wall 14 of the body panel 12 but is attached by a lateral web 44 to a spaced downwardly and inwardly projecting short extension'46 like earlier described element 16. A

16 may be a channel iron. The standard pick upside panel top 24 to the extension 16. This clamp includes angled wings 25 similar flaredclamping bracket 48 releaseably and adjustably secured at 50 to the extension 46 is clamped to the inner angle lip 20 and to the beaded extension 46' as previously described. A plug 54' welded tothe under sideof the arm 40 engages the conventional socket in the pickup side panel 12 and thus further prevents lateral. bracket movement. The modified device lacks the additional adjustable connection of the preferred embodiment but it'adds the socket plug 54.

A simplified version 60 of the camper tie down of the invention isshown in FIG. 9'as comprising members 460 and 13a which correspond to members 16 and 13 respectively of the preferredembodiment. Members 46a and 13a likewise form a right angle whichtits the'angle formed by panel top 14 and inside lip 20. A two .pronged clamp 48a is secured to member 460 by a bolt 50a and bears againstabead 30a to lock the tie down 60 to thepanel 12. v

Member 13a has an aperture 61 through which a bolt (not shown) mayv be extended for securing the camper to the tie down 6 0 and thus to the panel 12 with which the tie down 60 is down bent inner-lip forming an angle with said top wall, said device comprising:

a horizontalmember adapted to ported; an inner downward extension of said-member forming an angle therewith; clamp means adjustably'connected to said inner downward extension and adapted to pressurally expand in a plane dividing the inner angle between said top wall and its inner lip and thus firmly secure the tie down device to said panel; and means on said device suitable for connecting the same to a camper. 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the inner extension has an adjustable stabilizing contacting surface engaging the inner truck body side portion.

be panel-top-wall-suptended pressure member is secured to the upper inner side of the inner extension and engageable with the inner angle lip when clamped thereto.

- 4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamp means I comprises:

juncture of said'wings, to said downward extension; and said upper wing terminating close within and intersecting the angle between said horizontal member and said downward extension thereof. 

